Theft continues to plague automakers in the Detroit area. Would-be thieves attempted to steal at least two Dodge Durango SUVs today, according to WWJ 950, but chain-link fences prevented them from escaping in the vehicles.
Photos posted to social media by WWJ 950 reporter Ryan H. Marshall show two damaged Durango SUVs sitting on a hill outside the Jefferson North Plant in Detroit. It seems Stellantis surrounded the facility with two fences, the first preventing Durango from escaping.
The lead Durango suffered severe damage to the lower front bumper, whereupon the SUV decided to install a chain-link fence. A second Durango was also damaged in the incident, receiving deep gouges to the passenger side front bumper, fender, and headlights. It’s unclear if more vehicles were involved or if additional damage was caused to the property. The high ground makes it difficult to see into the facility. Photographs from the scene showed a tow truck on site to remove the vehicle, with the lead car entangled in the fence, making it difficult to evacuate.
Stellantis told WWJ 950 that they were cooperating with police on an “attempted theft of multiple vehicles”. The incident was reported around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. The investigation remains open, and Stellantis said it would make no additional comment on the matter to the radio station.
This is just the latest theft attempt to target automakers this year. Last month, about 30 people managed to steal 13 vehicles from a dealer in Flint, Michigan. The 7,000-volt electrified fence and armed guards weren’t enough to stop the thieves, who exchanged fire with the guards during the incident.
The Mustang and Durango weren’t the only models targeted. In June, police recovered 13 stolen Ford F-150 Raptors. However, a month later, thieves were going to steal a few sample pickups, but police managed to arrest three suspects and found the stolen Mustang.
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